Meet The Team

Sara is sitting on a stool with her hands clasped in her lap. She's wearing jeans, a navy top, and a khaki jacket. Her hair is shoulder-length. Sara is smiling. Historic windows and a small plant are visible in the background.

Sara Martin, AIA

President

Sara has over 20 years of professional experience in creative and deadline-driven architectural projects, but her true passion has always been business. In 2013, seeing a need for a local architecture firm specializing in historical renovation, Sara and her husband, Sean, combined their skills to establish Open Door Architecture. They have since built a team of designers and project managers dedicated to creating beautiful, functional homes tailored to their clients’ unique needs and styles.

Sara focuses on marketing, mentoring, and business development within the firm. She is passionate about making architecture accessible and relevant to everyone. Her background in both commercial and residential architecture has equipped her with diverse technical expertise in building science, construction detailing and management, and design documentation. This ensures that our clients’ homes are not only beautiful but also well-constructed.

Outside of work, Sara enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her husband, Sean, their three children, and doting grandparents. She also loves meeting new people, taking walks, and leading her kids’ Girl Scout troop.

Sean Martin

President

Sean is the perfect complement to Sara. Just as she loves marketing and business development, Sean loves designing and working with clients. Sean honed his design skills and technical understanding of buildings at two respected local architecture firms before co-founding Open Door Architecture. This business has allowed him to reconnect with his passion for historic architecture.

By focusing on sensitive renovations and additions to old homes, Sean and Sara have successfully built a niche business that serves our community of like-minded historical home enthusiasts. Sean is dedicated to providing old homes with the sustainable longevity they deserve, embracing the latest techniques in building science and research while remaining loyal to historical details.

Outside of work, Sean enjoys traveling back to his hometown of York, Pennsylvania, visiting family, going to the beach, and building Lego streetscapes.

Sean is wearing khaki pants, a white dress shirt, and a gray blazer. He's leaning against a white wall with his back hand in his pocket looking away from the camera. A white table is visible in the background.
A smiling man named Richard-Allen Foster is wearing a black sweater and standing in the Open Door Architecture office which is located inside a historic church. Historic windows and mid-mod furniture are visible in the background.

Richard-Allen Foster, AIA

Project Designer

Richard-Allen has over 20 years of design experience in both commercial and residential projects. He is highly skilled at fostering collaboration within studio environments, having done so in both teaching and leadership capacities. Richard-Allen’s main interest at Open Door Architecture is in modern homes. Since joining our team in 2021, he has created stunning, minimalist designs for many of our clients.

Richard-Allen also has a keen interest in emerging technologies, which has significantly enhanced our design process. His skills have allowed us to provide our clients with beautiful drawings and renderings, created using the most efficient and innovative techniques available in our field.

Richard-Allen is currently attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute pursuing a Master of Science degree in Architecture Sciences. While doing so, he continues to lead design projects and offer support remotely.

Lauren Bush, AIA

Project Designer

A Chattanooga native, Lauren came to Knoxville to pursue a degree in architecture at the University of Tennessee. During her tenure at local architecture firms, she has acquired over 15 years of experience leading award-winning projects across various markets and scales.

Joining our team in 2023, Lauren has excelled at transforming our clients’ visions for their homes into beautifully designed and well-coordinated solutions. Whether it’s a large new construction project or a small home renovation, she ensures a seamless process. She finds joy in working with families, helping them feel at ease at every stage of the design process.

Beyond her professional expertise, Lauren is passionate about community involvement. She loves volunteering with her favorite local organizations and exploring the city with her husband and three boys.

Lauren is wearing a white top and cream pants and is sitting on the arm of a leather sofa. Historic windows are visible in the background.
Lauren is wearing a light green button down shirt and is leaning against a white wall. A white table and green plant are visible in the background.

Lauren Mullane-Searle, RA

Project Designer

Lauren graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee’s Interior Design program with chancellor’s honors for extraordinary professional promise. She furthered her education with a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Texas, and then spent time working as a project architect at a top firm in Seattle before moving back to her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. With over 10 years of experience, she’s worked for highly regarded architecture firms on commercial, residential, and interior design projects, overseen business development as a director of millwork, and teaches architecture and interior architecture students at the University of Tennessee.

Lauren’s excellent communication skills and business acumen make her a great fit at Open Door Architecture. Her leadership skills and experience in so many areas have been a great asset to our team. Being such a small firm, we value anyone who can wear many hats, and Lauren certainly fits that description. 

When Lauren isn’t teaching or designing beautiful renovations for our clients, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, and re-discovering beauty in nature through hiking, drawing, writing, reading, or watching the clouds go by.

Erin Metelka, NCIDQ

Project Designer

Erin brings together a Bachelor of Science degree and over a decade of experience in design. She loves to create homes that feel both beautiful and deeply livable – – believing that good design isn’t just about style, it’s about how thoughtfully planned spaces can improve everyday life.

Clients often describe her as a problem solver at heart. Every project constraint is really an opportunity to discover creative solutions that fit each family’s lifestyle. Whether it’s shaping the flow of a room or refining the details that make a home uniquely yours, she approaches each design with care, curiosity, and collaboration.

Outside of design work, she is a proud mom of two and can regularly be found at Pure Barre, which keeps her grounded and energized. Both at work and at home, she is passionate about building balance, comfort, and a sense of belonging.

Erin is wearing a blue wrap dress and sitting on a stool with her legs crossed. Her hands are in lap. Historic windows and a small plant are visible in the background.
Hope has long, dark hair and is wearing a satin green button down shirt with white pants. She's standing with her arms in front of her, fingers touching. Historic windows and a small plant are visible behind her.

Hope Tippett

Project Designer

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Birmingham-Southern College, Hope pivoted her career path and went on to pursue a Masters in Architecture at the University of Tennessee. During this time, she did internships at both commercial and high-end residential firms.

We were lucky enough to have Hope join our team in 2023 as an intern. She’s now a project designer focused on creating a wonderful experience for our clients in their pursuit of a beautiful home. Hope keeps us updated on the latest design trends and is eager to learn at every opportunity. She’s also been the driving force behind our social media feed.

When she’s not in the office, Hope can be found out and about downtown with friends and family, getting away to the beach as often as possible, and walking around her North Knox neighborhood with her bulldog, Banks. 

Geneva Hill, AIA

Project Designer / Construction Administrator

Geneva has nearly a decade of experience working on a wide range of project types and scales, but her true passion lies in residential design. Since joining Open Door Architecture in 2024, she has been instrumental in strengthening our client relationships.

Geneva excels at fostering open communication among all members of the design and construction team. This expertise allows us to produce the highest quality homes for our clients and has been key in bridging both sides of our design/build team, creating a seamless experience from schematic design to construction.

Outside of work, Geneva can be found playing street hockey, climbing, swimming, and exploring the woods with her family.

Geneva is sitting in a mid-mod chair with her legs crossed. She's wearing a gray dress. A small plant and large windows are visible in the background.
Matt Johnson - Construction Consulting at Open Door Architecture

Matt Johnson

Construction Consultant

Matt has 18 years of experience in the construction and architecture industry. He specializes in the preconstruction process, ensuring that every project is set up to be successful and seamless. Having held design and construction roles across commercial, municipal, residential, and industrial projects, he offers a breadth of experience and a depth of detail rooted in the latest building science and construction methods. This expertise ensures that every solution is precisely tailored to each client’s unique needs.

In addition to being a cat dad of four and a chicken dad of twelve, Matt spends his free time traveling and skiing.

Deanna Rhodes

Project Manager

A Knoxville native, Deanna Rhodes is a skilled designer and seasoned project manager with over a decade of experience in the architecture and construction industry. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture from the University of Tennessee and began her career in interior design before transitioning into architecture, where she has spent the last 10 years honing her technical expertise across a broad range of residential and commercial projects.

Deanna brings a comprehensive understanding of the entire project lifecycle—from early design concepts through construction execution. Since joining our team in 2025, she has been instrumental in building the construction side of our practice, leading everything from contractor coordination and project scheduling to construction management and client communication. Her architectural insight, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving make her an invaluable asset to our team and clients alike.

Deeply connected to her hometown, Deanna takes great pride in contributing to Knoxville’s continued growth through thoughtful design and community-focused work. Outside of the office, she enjoys renovating her own home and spending time outdoors with her two children—often hiking, biking, or taking in the city’s vibrant First Friday events.

Deanna is standing next to a window in a historic church. Her hand is on the windowsill. She has dark hair and is wearing a blue dress. A leather sofa is visible in the background.

Will Dallery

Project Designer

Will has a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Tennessee. He previously worked in commercial architecture before joining our team in 2025.  Will brings a fresh take on design and prioritizes our clients’ needs throughout all stages of the project.
 

When he’s not designing renovations for our clients, you can find Will trail running, biking around Knoxville, and enjoying a film at Central Cinema with his partner.

Meghan McCrary

Business Administrator

Meghan graduated with a degree in architecture at the University of Tennessee, but quickly changed career paths and started her own product-based graphic design business. For 14 years she designed and manufactured greeting cards, stationery, and other giftable items and sold them in stores all across the country.

Meghan brought her entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen to Open Door Architecture in 2024 to help us manage our day-to-day operations like payroll, invoicing, scheduling, and business administration. She has a keen interest in photography and marketing and her role often bleeds over into those areas.

Meghan grew up in a historical neighborhood in West Knoxville right across from a cemetery, a combination which has undoubtedly shaped her interest in Knoxville’s history, historic homes, and finding beauty in unexpected places. Meghan spends her free time learning new recipes for her family and perfecting her pilates skills. She also enjoys planning family vacations and organizing all of the toys she’s acquired since becoming a mom.

Meghan is wearing a black sleeveless sweater with light jeans. She's standing against a black mid-mod chair with her hand on the back of the chair. Large windows and a small plant are visible in the background.